The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26

"That's a bright thought Allie," said
Mrs. Martin, smiling "I'll 90 this after.
noon, II you will promise not to walk
around too much. Perhaps she will nd.
vance me little money, she is so kind,
and can bring you an orange for your sup
PERI Z e'
Allie smiled, and, after pause, said,
slowly: "Don't you remember, mother,
whatI told you long ago about thegirl with
the pink roses who talked about Lenta II
| does seem to me as IL we had been keeping
| Lent her way. All our good times have
| been spoilt. But Twas, just thinking that
to-morrow's castor Sunday, and that's the
| end Of Lent; and now I'm better, and you'll
como home tonight with some money, and
perhaps tomorrow morning we'n begin
to have better times, and good things to eat
| again, and be happy, as we used to be. /
kind Of feel so, mothcr."
| AT tho close of this long speech Mrs.
Martin kissed hcr ''little comforter" as she
called tho child, and hurried to Mrs.
Greene's, only to find that sickness and
death had visited the elegant home, and
Mrs Greene, with herremaining children,
had left town. Mrs. Martin was disheart-
ened by this blow. She was but little
known in tho great city, and there were 30
/ HlhIy 40 VOUI US bEo o66AinH WOEh budb uGE
chances seemed very small. AS, she walked
home through the wet streets her heart was
very heavy, and every breath was o prayer.
30, God show me what to do! 20, God |!
give me food for my child" she repeated,
over and over again, rs she climbed the
stairs to her rooms. She was surprised to
see bright light shining from under the
door. "Can Allie have lighted the candleW
she thought. ~ hope she hasn't been try.
| ing to walk much. She Is not strong
enough" She opened the door, and stood
| gazing with astonishment on the scene be-.
| fore her.
The candle was burning brightly on the
window-sill, and the cracks in the stove
were doing their best to help light the small
room. Between them both it was fully
light enough for Mrs Martin to see her lit.
tie daughter standing by the table, looking
| up at tall man, who stood with his back to
Mrs. Martin. Allies face was aglow with
happiness, and o merry laugh fell from her
| lips just as Mrs. Martin opened the door.
| The tall mans arms were full OF bundles,
| and by his side was basket that was as
full as could be of more queer-shaped pack
| ages.
"Here's motherw cried Allie. "Oh!
mother, you came too soon! We were 60
ing to have supper ready for you"
Mrs. Martin did not speak; but she closed
the door, and took two steps forward right
into the arms of the tall man, who turned
to meet her, while all the bundles fell to
the floor. sly T 19 Is
John! John!w E
ayes, Hattie, my wife" And then there
was little crying party Of three all packed
into the big rocking-chair, and they did not
seem to be in any great hurry for their tea
after all. How much there was to tell! 1t
was another "John Martin" that was killed
on the train; but Allies father had been
very ill at tho time; and when he was able
to travel he reached his home only to find
his wife and child gone. He traced them
to the city where his aunt had lived; but
there all clew ended, and the past three
years had been spent in truitless search.
That night he had been directed to Ferris
row by Mr.. Mason, and had soon convinced
Allie that he was her town papa" She
had told him their history and ended with
the information that there was only just
enough pork for their supper, and he must
go out and buy loaf OK bread before
mother got back He was gone some time
and had just returned when Mrs. Martin
reached home. f.. tHf EHI Din.
"Now, mother, didn't tell you believed
our Lent was overt And to think to-mor.
row is Easterm cried Allie, suddenly, from
somewhere in the big rocking g-chair.
Pm sure you can imagine the rest; how,
after awhile, Mrs. Martin was able to stop
laughing and crying, and made such fro
in tho old stove as it had not seen for
months; how Allie undid the packages, and
screamed with delight at the treasures that
were brought to view, and, how a little
later, tho table was spread with supper,
the like OF which Allie and her mother had
not tasted in years; and then the happy
evening that was spent by those three in
that dingy little room, and the plans that
were made for the future, and that we viii
trust wore all carried out. do not know
that they were; but I do know that, the
next summer, when the pink rose was bud
ding over certain little porch in a pretty
Western town, q little girl stood on chair
in front of it, diligently counting the buds,
to find, II she could, just how many pink
roses there would be in few weeks; and,
although she is dressed in pretty clothes
and has rosy cheeks, she looks so much like
Allie Martin, Of Ferris row, that really
believe it is she.-Mary E. Perkins, IL N. Y.
Independent. p